Unique Chocolate Treats for Valentine’s Day

Move over, Russell Stover. Hell no, Hershey. Goodbye, Godiva. Ciao, Cadbury. Get lost, Lindt. For choosy chocolate lovers, those common candies just won’t do. If your girlfriend, boyfriend, best friend, mom, or whoever you want to treat (yourself included) craves unique chocolate, these unusual choices will hit the spot, on Valentine’s Day or on any other. They may not come in heart-shaped boxes, but it’s what inside that counts.

From camel milk and crickets to curry powder and coconut ash (and plenty of less alliterative options), these interesting chocolates are all delicious and exciting, and worthy of much adoration. And yes, sweet-salty bacon chocolate bars deserve a mention, but even that’s old-hat by now. Try one (or more) of these unique chocolate gifts for your discerning Valentine.

Camel milk chocolate has recently gotten easier to come by outside of Dubai (and the “Chopped” kitchen, where Martha Stewart once brought it along for the dessert basket challenge), but chances are good your giftee hasn’t tried it yet. It’s available with dates and with hazelnuts, as well as in white chocolate and dark chocolate form. Most reviewers admit they can’t taste much of a difference, but the camel milk certainly gives it some cachet.Try It

This Thomas Keller-backed—and Oprah-approved—organic extra-virgin olive oil chocolate has an ultra-smooth mouthfeel and extra antioxidants from the heart-healthy fat (which comes from famous Italian olive oil producer Armando Manni). If this sleekly packaged set of milk and dark chocolate is a bit too rich for your blood, you can also buy single bars of the same olive oil chocolate for $15 each at Williams Sonoma.Try It

This 9-piece truffle set from Vosges starts with high-quality chocolate, of course, and highlights inventive flavor combinations like star anise, fennel, and absinthe; ginger, wasabi, and matcha green tea; and coconut and curry (among some less unusual options for when your palate needs a little break). Spring for the 16-piece collection and get some additional flavors (like pasilla chiles and candied violet), or the deluxe 32-piece box for a few more (including horseradish-lemon zest and rose water-pistachio).Try It

For single flavors, check your grocery store's candy aisle and you might find even more inventive Vosges bars at even lower prices.

Porcini mushrooms and thyme may sound more suited to a bowl of pasta than a chocolate confection, but this beautifully striped milk-and-white chocolate bar contains both earthy shrooms and herbal thyme for a flavor sensation. The packaging is gorgeous too, and the bars are handmade in Pennsylvania.Try It

Éclat White Chocolate Experience, $38 on Amazon

You can also buy a quartet of these smartly striped bars, two in porcini-thyme and two in the green tea and roasted rice flavor combo.

Pears, cheese, chocolate…sounds like a lovely start to a cheese board—or a unique truffle option that’s probably ripe for an exercise in pairing wine and chocolate! Compartes, which has been a celebrity favorite since it opened in the 1950s and is still beloved by famous and regular folk alike, also offers tons of other delicious flavors to suit any taste, all fetchingly decorated to boot.Try It

You can buy peanut butter and jelly chocolate bars at Trader Joe’s, which is a sure sign these aren’t too uncommon—except this gourmet version steps it up with “a thick, creamy layer of peanut butter praline…mixed with crumbly biscuit for a deliciously crunchy texture…topped with a tartly sweet and tender layer of passionfruit pâte de fruit.” Oh, and it’s covered in semisweet chocolate, of course.Try It

This buttery, rich, golden brittle is studded with cacao nibs that have picked up a hazy tang from renowned bacon baron Allan Benton‘s smokehouse, and it’s all finished off with a layer of chocolate. (Consider accompanying this with a box of the brand’s duck fat caramels.) But beware, this isn’t in stock on Amazon until Feb. 10—which is just in time for Prime members!Try It

Not only is this smooth and silky dark chocolate bar filled with spicy-sweet habanero-honey caramel, it has an appropriately cheeky name perfect for the occasion. And it’s affordable enough for every budget.Try It

Got a bourbon lover in your life? These dark chocolate-covered, sea-salt-sprinkled caramels are made with Woodford Reserve’s award-winning bourbon, plus butter and cream. For something with a cool kiss of mint and a bourbon cream center rather than chewier caramel, try their Mint Julep Bourbon Balls too.Try It

If you’ve ever dipped your fries in a chocolate shake, then you know this is good. Maybe better, since the chocolate is dark and the potato chips will stay nice and crisp. If your Valentine has a sweet tooth that’s also salty, they’ll be delighted with this addictive dessert—and if you’re lucky, they’ll share.Try It

If Nestlé Crunch bars and even chocolate-covered potato chips are a little too ho-hum for your honey, consider gifting this crunchy cricket-studded chocolate bar instead. Edible insects are the wave of the future, so may as well get on board now. And almost everything tastes better covered in chocolate anyway.Try It

Chuao chocolates are fairly easy to find in grocery stores and at other retail outlets, but this lovely little gift box is a great option for Valentines who like some variety. Find a mix of flavors like sea salt and chipotle with popping candy for a little fizz; spicy dark chocolate; and mango, chile, and lime.Try It

Vegan and paleo-friendly, this chocolate bar boasts “zesty lemon caramel with a cheesecake twist“—made with Peruvian cacao, Indonesian coconut sugar, and organic lemon essential oil, but no dairy at all.Try It

Tahini has taken over desserts and we love it. These smooth dark chocolate bites are filled with pure sesame purée, milk chocolate (yes, two kinds of chocolate in one), and bits of toasty sesame brittle for a textural treat that tastes amazing.Try It

Champagne is a must for special occasions, and Valentine’s Day is no exception—but why not present it in the form of pretty pink Champagne chocolate truffles (alongside a bottle for good measure)?Try It

If Valentine’s beer is more your true love’s desire, give them a box of these Oregon craft beer chocolate truffles. Smooth and creamy inside with a crisp chocolate shell, I can personally attest that these are delicious, and the edible bottle caps look exactly like the real thing.Try It

A Note on Wrapping: If you choose an exotic truffle collection, you’re already covered as far as presentation, but if you opt for a homemade mix of a few intriguing bars, you can wrap them each in tissue paper and present them in a sweet heart-emblazoned bag. In any case, you’re going to make someone very happy.

Hallmark Large Gift Bag with Glitter Heart, $5.99 on Amazon

Create a grab bag of individually-wrapped treats in a romantic package.

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Jen is an associate content producer at Chowhound. Raised on scrapple and blue crabs, she hails from Baltimore, Maryland, but has lived in Portland (Oregon) for so long it feels like home. She enjoys the rain, reads, writes, eats, and cooks voraciously, and stops to pet every stray cat she sees. Continually working on building her Gourmet magazine collection, she will never get over its cancellation. Read more of her work.